Uber faces new trial for sexual assault after $8.5 million in compensation

See the videos that are trending on g1 After the setback in a recent federal jury trial in the United States, Uber will return to court on Tuesday (14) to face the accusations of a second woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by a driver called through the app. 🗒️Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send to g1 The trial will take place in the federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is expected to last around three weeks. The case could indicate whether the recent $8.5 million verdict in Arizona was an isolated episode or a sign of bigger problems for Uber, which faces more than 3,300 similar lawsuits filed in the same federal court. The two processes are treated as “pioneering” cases — actions used as a reference to guide the progress of the rest of the litigation. Decisions from these trials can help define the value of other actions in eventual agreements or a collective solution. In the process that will now be analyzed, the author — whose name was not disclosed — states that the episode occurred in March 2019, shortly before 2 am, upon arriving at her destination in Raleigh, North Carolina. According to the lawsuit, the driver allegedly grabbed her inner thigh and asked if he could “have it.” The woman claims she left the vehicle immediately. Uber says it is not a “public transport company” Uber, which has already faced other controversies related to safety, does not deny that the episode occurred. In documents presented to the Court, however, the company states that it operates as a software company, and not as a “public carrier”, a category that includes taxi services and which, under North Carolina law, has a legal obligation to protect passengers. The company also argues that drivers using the platform are independent contractors. For this reason, according to the defense, Uber could not be held responsible for the individual actions of these professionals. ▶️ The discussion about whether drivers should be considered employees or independent contractors has been with the company since the beginning of its operations, both in the USA and in other countries. The topic has already motivated several legal proceedings and debates among legislators, but there is still no consensus. The trial in North Carolina will be led by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer. He typically practices in San Francisco and also oversees the suite of lawsuits filed against Uber. In a statement released on Friday (10), a company spokesperson stated that the episode discussed in this trial had never been reported to Uber or law enforcement authorities and only became known when the legal action was filed. “Sexual assault is a horrific crime that we take extremely seriously. We remain focused on investing in technology, policies and partnerships that strengthen safety, help prevent harm and support victims,” ​​the spokesperson said. The plaintiff’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. In the Arizona case, which resulted in a recent conviction, the plaintiff — a resident of Oklahoma — claimed that an Uber driver harassed and then raped her during a ride in 2023. Platform compensates user with US$8.5 million In February, a jury concluded that the driver acted as an agent of Uber and held the company responsible for his actions. The woman was awarded $8.5 million in punitive damages, but the jury rejected her claim for punitive damages. The plaintiff’s lawyers had requested more than $140 million. Uber asked Judge Breyer, who also presided over that trial, to set aside the verdict or order a new trial. In addition to these cases, the company faces more than 500 lawsuits with similar allegations in California state courts. So far, only one of them has been brought to trial. In September, the jury concluded that Uber had failed to take steps to protect the plaintiff’s safety, but ruled that this failure was not a determining factor in the alleged damages. Passenger with Uber app open on her cell phone, in illustrative photo. BRUNO FERNANDES/FOTOARENA/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO

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